As the Alabama Gulf Coast continues to enjoy sunshine and the type of warm, but not too hot, fall weather that makes you want to be outside, many may have their thoughts on the Southeast as communities from central Florida to east Tennessee continue to reel from Hurricane Helene.
Baldwin County was lucky to be on the weak side of the storm, which made landfall Thursday, Sept. 26, in Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 4 with winds of 140 mph. Other than 12-foot waves that thrilled local surfers, and a couple days of dangerous rip currents, the area was completely spared.
After inundating a wide swath of Gulf coastal Florida with storm surge and destructive winds, Helene did not lose momentum as fast as other recent storms, moving quickly north to bring wind and rain causing catastrophic flash flooding inland as far and wide as the central and Upstate South Carolina, central and north Georgia, western North Carolina and eastern and north Tennessee. Population-dense, river-based cities as big and popular as Greenville, Atlanta, Asheville and Pigeon Forge had no time to plan as rivers and creeks overflowed and dams broke.
With recovery ongoing, many may be wondering how those outside of Helene’s path can help. From local, grassroots efforts to federally organized missions, here are some options.
Cosmo’s Restaurant & Bar in Orange Beach is accepting donations of essential items to be sent to those impacted in western North Carolina.
Drop off items at Cosmo’s, 25753 Canal Road, Orange Beach, or any of their sister locations in Orange Beach: Luna’s, 25689 Canal Road; Buzzcatz, 25689 Canal Road; Cobalt, 28099 Perdido Beach Blvd.; and GT’s on the Bay, 26189 Canal Road.
Items to donate:
- Water
FEMA’s nonprofit partners include the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Convoy of Hope and Heart to Heart International, among others, that are supporting survivors by providing emergency shelter, food, water, cleanup kits, health care supplies and other disaster relief items.
The Red Cross has nearly 900 responders deployed, according to FEMA. As of Saturday, there were at least 1,900 people in more than 80 shelters. Opportunities to help include financial donations, blood donations and volunteering. Go to https://www.redcross.org/.
The Salvation Army is providing meals at six emergency shelters in Georgia. In Florida, five mobile feeding units are in Tallahassee, and 12 are in Perry. The organization is also providing cleanup kits and blankets and is providing meal services to North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky. Opportunities to help include financial donations and contributing needed items. Go to https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/.
Convoy of Hope is in Perry to distribute disaster supplies to survivors and partnering with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office. Opportunities to help include financial donations. Go to https://convoyofhope.org/.
Heart to Heart International is in Florida with hygiene kits and pharmaceuticals/health care supplies for survivors. Opportunities to help include financial donations. Go to https://www.hearttoheart.org/.
Food for the Poor is delivering pallets of hygiene kits to Catholic Charities in St. Pete and Tamps, Florida, and deploying disaster kits that include tarps and hygiene kits, women’s care kits and children’s activity kits. Opportunities to help include financial donations and volunteering. Go to https://foodforthepoor.org/.
National VOAD members and partners will serve these communities as long as necessary. There is no request for donations outside of cash. VOAD organizations as that you do not send unsolicited donated goods, and please do not self-deploy.
TEXT, DON’T CALL
If you are trying to reach someone who was in the area of impact, text rather than try to call. Calling can clog phone lines, while texting leaves lines open for emergencies.
